






HP 



WKtfM 




Bran 



■BsaaiSMffi 



\ 



/ 



MINT MARKS 



V 



A TREATISE 



ON 



THE COINAGE 



OF THE 



UNITED STATES HUH PUTS, 



BY 



ft 



A. G. HEATON, 

Member of the American Numismatic Association. 






•T 



Copyright, May, 1893, by A. G. Hbaton. 



WASHINGTON, D. O., 1893. 



PRICE, ONE DOLLAR. 



V 



->> 







UNITED STATES MINTS. 



THE PHILADELPHIA (PA.) MINT, 
the principal or parent institution, was organized in 1793, and has coined 
all denominations of gold, silver and minor pieces from their authoriza- 
tion to the present, with but few interruptions. The minor pieces have 
never been struck elsewhere. 

Philadelphia coins are unmarked. 



THE BRANCH OB ASSOCIATE MINTS. 



THE NEW ORLEANS (LA.) MINT 
was organized in 1838, and from that date to 1861 coined, somewhat 
irregularly, all denominations of gold and silver pieces. In 1879 it 
resumed with Eagles and silver Dollars, and has since '92 coined Halves, 
Quarters and Dimes. 

New Orleans coins are marked with an O- 



THE DAHLONEGA (GA.) MINT 
was organized in 1838 and suspended in 1861. It coined only gold pieces, 
Half Eagles and Quarter Eagles regularly, Dollars from 1849 to '61 and 
Three Dollars in '51 alone. 

Dahlonega coins are marked with a D- 



THE CHARLOTTE (N. C.) MINT 
was organized in 1838 and suspended in 1861. It coined only gold pieces, 
Half Eagles and Quarter Eagles almost regularly in the period named 
and Dollars almost regularly from 1849 to '59. 

Charlotte coins are marked with a C- 



THE SAN FRANCISCO (CAL.) MINT 
was organized in 1854, and has since coined all denominations of gold 
and silver pieces, the former from Half Eagles upward regularly to the 
present, and silver regularly to 1878, when Dollars continued alone, with 
Dimps from 1884, until 1892 renewed Halves and Quarters also. 
San Francisco Coins are marked with an S- 



THE CARSON CITY (NEV.) MINT 
was organized in 1870. Double Eagles, Eagles and Half Eagles were 
coined regularly from that date to 1884, as were silver Dollars, Halves, 
Quarters, Dimes, and a few Twenty Cent pieces were coined regularly to 
1878. Since then very little has been done. 

Carson City coins are marked with a CC- 



PREFACE. 

The coins of all other mints than that at Philadelphia are 
distinguished from its unmarked pieces and from each other 
by certain capital letters, indicating the city where they 
were struck, and are hence commonly known as ' Mint 
Marks.' 

The writer, a few years since, after enriching his almost 
complete collection of silver and minor issues of the parent 
institution with all attainable varieties, became much in- 
terested in gathering United States coinage bearing the let- 
ters to which he has referred. The attraction of his pursuit 
grew with each piece acquired, each series completed, and 
each unknown variety found, until his modern dates quite 
divided his consideration with the old. The difficulties 
encountered were the lack of any guide-book to this new 
territory, the remoteness of the very few collectors who were 
also attracted to it, the absence of information among col- 
lectors at large, as well as dealers and experts, wise in older 
coinage, and consequently the entirely hap-hazard search 
for desired Mint Marks amid large stocks and private ac- 
cumulations, because such pieces w r ere not distinguished 
from similar Philadelphia dates, and saved in appreciation 
of a separate table of values. 

The need of distinct estimates was evident. Preliminary 
searching proved that the rarity and consequent value of 
pieces of the same date from different mints were scarcely 
ever equal, and that some dates necessary to complete Branch 
Mint sequences never came to view. 

The Mint Report, annually issued by the Government, 
was the first substantial ground of information. 

Among its voluminous statistics are found lists of the 
coinage of every mint in the United States to the year pre- 
ceding the publication of the Report with the not-always con- 
secutive annual amount of the coinage of each denomina- 



5 

tion. This knowledge was valuable as indicating what dates 
a collector should look for, and what should be accounted 
scarce or rare from limited coinage. 

But these statements had to be established by investiga- 
tion and experience. It often happens that but a portion of 
the registered coinage of any piece is issued for circulation, 
the remainder being remelted. Occasionally an entire coin- 
age has either never left the mint or has been sent abroad 
and recoined there. Thus the Report announces the coinage 
of several dates in different denominations never known to 
numismatists ; but it omits also any reference to certain 
pieces which many collectors possess, and which are genuine 
and stubborn facts. The dates that exist in visible shape 
are, therefore, the essential things for a collector, and it be- 
came necessary in our new field of investigation to find out 
how far the Mint Report was realized in attainable coins. 

Persistent attention and search brought their reward. 
Date after date was found, series after series completed, 
mintage after mintage classified until a collection was 
formed, from which w T e are now able to verify nearly every 
piece reported in the Branch Mints' coinage of silver from 
1838 to the present year 1893. Of the total two hundred 
and seventy-seven dates, of all denominations, which these 
mints coined in the interval named, we lack but seven, and, 
knowing that three or four of these exist, have no doubt the 
remainder were coined also and will yet be found. 

The unrealized dates of the Report are, therefore, confined 
to old Philadelphia coinage entirely, and the ' Mint Mark ' 
field can no longer be avoided as indefinite and unsurveyed. 
The Mint Report is, indeed, only at fault in regard to Branch 
Mint coins from its omissions. No mention whatever is 
made of the existing Half Dime of 1838, the Quarter of 1849, 
and the Half Dollar of 1838 (all of the mint), or of the ex- 
cessively rare Dahlonega Mint gold Dollar of 1861. 

With these exceptions the Report of our Branch Mint coin- 
age gives the dates of each series accurately, and we are con- 



6 

vinced, from an examination of large quantities of money 
in different sections of the country, that its statements of the 
amount of each date struck can be confidently taken as a 
basis for deciding relative or actual rarity, with due allow- 
ance for the unknown difference between coinage and issue, 
the location of the collector and other points referred to 
elsewhere. 

As the Mint Report is not easily accessible to many col- 
lectors, we have digested all statistical information upon 
these topics of date and amount of coinage that could be of 
any value to them, and note in these pages the coins that 
are either scarce or rare from restricted number. 

Here the usefulness of the Mint Report ends. 

The VARIETIES of many dates are in no way referred to 
by it, though these are of the highest numismatic interest. 
We therefore have searched for and studied them with 
especial enthusiasm. 

, Some of these varieties are already known and have been 
described, but of more than an hundred recorded in this 
Treatise from examples in our possession, the greater portion 
are new to collectors and are now first published. They in- 
clude large, small, and differently placed Mint Marks, high 
and low dates, broken dies, and other peculiarities which 
will give exceptional value to our lists beyond. 

The estimates given of the rarity of these varieties, as 
well as of Mint Mark dates are the result of close attention 
to not only large quantities of money in circulation, but to 
the courteously submitted stocks of twenty coin dealers 
in various cities, whom we know personally, and our 
search has been so widespread, and the specimens seen and 
collected so sufficient for the purpose, that we feel assured the 
investigations of others will confirm all statements here 
made. Where a coin is not referred to as rare or scarce in 
these pages it should be understood to be of ample issue, and 
to be probably found without long search by any one hav- 
ing access to large amounts of money in prominent cities, 



especially those in the section where the coin is produced, 
but many more pieces would be scarce, of course, to a col- 
lector in a secluded place unfamiliar with bank tellers or 
trades' people. If, on the contrary, the chance of location 
enables a collector to find several coins of a date or variety 
we consider rare, he is the more fortunate, and will do well 
to preserve them. New varieties will, doubtless, be found 
from time to time as more active and general search is 
stimulated. 

Such a search has only been delayed by the absence of ex- 
act lists of coins known to exist, close descriptions of them, 
and, in fact, some other information than that given in 
occasional catalogues of coin sales of stray Mint Mark pieces 
which the owner has usually acquired by chance on account 
of the date or condition alone. 

This needed information, and our views at large upon the 
collection of Branch Mint coinage, we have decided to pre- 
sent publicly, as a cause of new interest in United States 
coinage at the beginning of its second century of existence, 
that others attracted to Mint Marks may better know what 
they require ; that general attention may be given to a most 
fascinating branch of numismatic study, and that rare or 
scarce Branch Mint pieces may be sooner rescued from cir- 
culation and new varieties found. 

May, 1893. A. G. H. 

NOTE. 

The Mints already mentioned, in the order of their organization after 
the Philadelphia Mint, were for many years strictly " Branch Mints " of 
the parent institution. 

At present the direction of all mints of the United States is from a 
bureau in the Treasury Department at Washington, but as the older Mint 
still supplies the dies, issues the widest range of coinage, and is to be so 
enlarged as to have a capacity for any future demand, the term ' Branch 
Mint ' may still, from a numismatic point of view, apply to the others, 
and, being the most concise designation available, is employed in the 
present treatise. 

We have also, to avoid monotony of words, used the terms "coin- 
age " and " issue" interchangeably where unimportant, having explained 



a 

that all of a coinage may not necessarily be issued. The Mint Report 
gives the coinage only, the amount of issue being never published. 

The mints furnish but the coins of the current year, whether the ap- 
plicant be a banker or numismatist. Anterior dates can only be found 
in circulation or, of higher condition, in dealers' hands. 

We have written this treatise upon Branch Mint coinage entirely from 
personal investigation upon the lines given in the preface, and ha\e thus 
far seen or heard of nothing but fragmentary references to the subject in 
a printed shape, which have in no way added to information already ac- 
quired. 

There may have been, however, in old catalogues or numismatic pub- 
lications, which we have not chanced to meet with, lists of Branch Mint 
pieces, or well-studied arcicles covering, to some extent, the ground we 
have passed over, and even giving additional details. 

If such exist we should be glad to know of them, and credit any knowl- 
edge they may give upon our subject, but as they have not been men- 
tioned during our several years' interest in Mint Marks, we must 
consider any such articles as either very brief, very doubtful, or very 
inaccessible, and offer our researches as an original contribution at a 
time when some hand-book to this coinage is much needed. 

Any information of the discovery of varieties of Mint Marks, not re- 
corded in this Treatise, will be gladly received by the writer, and, if duly 
authenticated by inspection, will probably be published later in a sup- 
plementary sheet. Care should be taken that Mint Marks, flattened 
by wear, are not mistaken for varieties. 

For the unacquainted reader it may be stated that the writer is not a 
Dealer. His artistic profession is better known to Philatalists than Nu- 
mismatists from the reproduction of his painting at the U. S. Capitol, 
entitled 'The Recall of Columbus/ upon the 50-cent Columbus Stamp; 
but coin collecting with him is simply a relaxation from professional 
work, and, in common with all private collectors, he sells only occasional 
duplicates. Among these, however, are a number of Mint Marks accum- 
ulated for the study of varieties. 

Persons requesting information should enclose the return postage to 
assure a reply. 

This Treatise can be procured either through coin dealers and periodi- 
cals devoted to numismatics or directly from the author by sending the 
price in a money order, a postal note, or in a greenback so wrapped as to 
be unseen through the enclosing letter and envelope and at the sender's 

risk. 

A. G. H., 
1618 17th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 



THE COINAGE OF THE 

UNITED STATES BRANCH MINTS, 

OR SILVER AND GOLD PIECES, 

COMMONLY CALLED 

'MINT marks; 



THE NEED OF AMERICAN COLLECTORS. 

The early coinage of the United States is very interesting 
to numismatists, both from its types and its varieties. Not 
only were the designs numerous, but the association of dif- 
ferent ' obverses ' and ' reverses,' the slight differences of the 
copies by different engravers of the same design, the over- 
looked blunders of many of these engravers, the letters and 
figures of different sizes, the overdating of coin of preceding 
years, the lettered or plain edges, the thick or thin planchets, 
and various other differences cause the existence of very 
many dissimilar pieces of the same date and value. 

Over fifty varieties of the copper Cent of 1794 have been 
classified, and as many of the Half Dollar of 1795. The 1817 
cent has nearly twenty dissimilar obverses, while, as all ex- 
perienced collectors know^, the number of early copper and 
silver United States coin that have approximately ten varie- 
ties, is too numerous to mention. The collection of these 
many varieties of the first fifty years of our coinage is thus 
very fascinating. But from the year 1840 the figure of a 
sitting woman, looking backward, seemed a good enough 
design for almost every thing in silver issues. 

Taste and fastidiousness diminished, while mechanical 
methods of exactly reproducing and multiplying a die 



10 

reached such perfection as to leave no appreciable difference 
between any two of a given date in thousands of pieces 
coined. For many persons the pleasure associated with the 
gathering of their early pieces has been succeeded merely by 
the slight interest of continuing their series, of having the 
later coins in ' proof/ or in possessing the very few of these 
which are really rare. Some well-meant attempts have, to be 
sure, been made in the new dies of 1892 and in the Colum- 
bian Half Dollar to awaken numismatic and artistic interest, 
but they greatly dispose the collector to slumber again 
until a worthy ' relief is inspired. 

We should on this centennial year of the first United 
States coinage (1893) advocate a return to the superb de- 
signs of our earliest dates were it not for the confusion which 
might result from much wear or from intentional altera- 
tions of the figures on modern pieces. Let us hope some 
imaginative brain and skillful hand may yet be authorized 
to produce new coins with the dignity, beauty, and sim- 
plicity of the old. 

In the meantime there is a generally overlooked or 
neglected means of dispelling all apathy in connection with 
our modern coinage. There is a region of activity and 
study appreciated by a few which it is the object of this 
Treatise to open and map out that the many may hasten in 
to enjoy and possess its riches. 

And this is the territory whose acres and quarter sections 
are now free. 

The collection of the coinage of the Branch Mints of the United 
States, in addition to that of Philadelphia, will not only sustain 
interest in the Nation's coinage as a whole, and especially in the 
issues of the last half century, but will be found worthy of the en- 
thusiasm of both the young collector and the most advanced nu- 
mismatist. 

The many causes of the attractiveness of the study and 
collection of ' Mint Marks ' are given as follows : 






11 

CAUSES OF ATTRACTIVENESS. 

1st. Mint Marks in their progressive issue at New Or- 
leans, Dahlonega, Charlotte, San Francisco, and Carson City 
show the direction of our country's growth and its develop- 
ment of mineral wealth. 

2d. Mint Marks in their amount of issue in varied years 
at different points offer the monetary pulse of our country 
to the student of finance. 

3rd. The denominations of any one Branch Mint, in their 
irregular coinage and their relation to each other at certain 
periods, indicate curiously the particular needs of the given 
section of the land. 

4th. A knowledge of the Branch Mint coinage is indis- 
pensable to an understanding of the greater or less coinage 
of the Philadelphia Mint and its consequent numismatic 
value. 

5th. A knowledge of the coinage of the different Branch 
Mints gives to many usually considered common dates great 
rarity if certain Mint Marks are upon them. 

6th. Mint-Mark study gives nicety of taste and makes a 
mixed set of pieces unendurable. 

7th. Several dies were used at Branch Mints which never 
served in the Philadelphia coinage, and their impressions 
should no longer be collected as mere varieties. 

8th. The very irregularity of dates in some denominations 
of Branch Mint issues is a pleasant exercise of memory and 
numismatic knowledge. 

9th. This irregularity in date, and in the distribution of 
coinage, gives a collection in most cases but two or three, 
and rarely three or more contemporaneous pieces, and thus 
occasions no great expense. 

10th. As the Branch Mints are so far apart their issues 
have the character of those of different nations, and tend to 
promote correspondence and exchange, both to secure com- 
mon dates in fine condition and the rarities of each. 



12 

11th. The United States coinage has a unique interest in 
this production at places far apart of pieces of the same value 
and design with distinguishing letters upon them. 

12th. As Mint Marks only occur in silver and gold coins 
they can be found oftener than coins of the baser metals in 
fine condition, and neither augment or involve a collection 
of the minor pieces. 

13th. As Mint Marks have not heretofore been sought, or 
studied as they deserve, many varieties yet await in circu- 
lation the good fortune of collectors who cannot buy freely 
of coins more in demand, and who, in having access to large 
sums of money, may draw therefrom prizes impossible to 
seekers after older dates. 

14th. The various sizes of the mint marks 0, S, D, C, and 
CC, ranging from the capital letters of average book type to 
infinitesimal spots on the coin, as well as the varied loca- 
tion of these letters, defy any accusation of monotony, and 
are far more distinguishable than the characteristics of many 
classified varieties of old cents and ' colonials.' 

15th. Mint Marks include noble enough game for the 
most advanced coin hunter, as their rarities are among the 
highest in value of United States coinage, and their varie- 
ties permit the gathering in some issues of as many as six 
different modern pieces of the same date. 

16th. The face value of all the silver Mint Marks to 1893, 
being less than one hundred and fifty dollars, they are 
within the means of any collector, as, aside from the economy 
of those found in circulation, the premiums for rarities are 
yet below those on many coins of far inferior intrinsic 
worth. 

17th. As the new Mint at Philadelphia will have a ca- 
pacity equal to all existing United States Mints, it is proba- 
ble that others will be greatly restricted or even abolished 
in no long time, and that Mint Marks will not only cease as 
an annual expense, but be a treasure in time to those who 
have the foresight to collect them now. 



13 

RARITY AND VALUE. 

The value of a coin depends upon its rarity. Old coins 
have been reduced in number by many causes and made 
rare, even when the issue was large. But the influences of 
recoinage, export, loss by fire or flood, and excessive wear 
do not apply to modern pieces. 

Mint Marks, therefore, depend primarily for rarity upon 
a known small coinage, or, what is practically the same, 
though not as evident, a partial issue only of the amount 
coined. This partial issue is more apt to occur with large 
silver pieces than small, as the full coinage of the latter is 
generally required. 

If the coinage of given dates of Mint Mark pieces is not 
limited, their scarcity is influenced by many causes and un- 
certainties that do not apply to older American pieces now 
almost entirely in dealers' and collectors' hands. While 
loss of a portion of each year's coinage must be conceded 
even to modern pieces through restricted issue, export, and 
injury, other conditions than loss also govern Mint Marks 
more than Philadelphia coinage. The latter comes from one 
source, and can be gathered through regular channels, the 
former from many, which are very little known. 

A collector in Philadelphia may have a fine set of that 
mint, and even of the O mint, and wait long before finding 
the majority of S mint pieces in circulation. One in Carson 
City may similarly, after gathering fine series of the CC and 
S mints, have his patience much tried in attempting to pick 
up a line of the mint coinage of any series, although many 
of the dates exist, of course, in large numbers. Hence Mint 
Marks have an indirect rarity and value depending upon 
the location of the collector. 

Yet, although he will usually collect the pieces of the 
nearest Mint in better condition than others, there are at 
times exceptional causes to the contrary, for when the banks 
of a community need subsidiary coin and the nearest Mint 
cannot supply it, shipments are made from a distant one 
and the collector has unexpected opportunities. 



14 

CONDITION also affects the value of Mint Marks to a 
greater extent than of Philadelphia Mint issues. Though the 
Branch Mint coinage is all relatively modern, gradual cir- 
culation across the length and breadth of a continent causes 
most pieces to be much worn. We have been surprised at 
the low average condition of thousands of dollars' worth of 
coin which we have seen counted. 

The lower denominations, the Dimes and Quarters, suffer 
particularly from their more common use, and but few Halves 
and Dollars are very fine. They servea collector but tempora- 
rily, and, if a date of unusually rapid transfer from a distant 
section does not come to his view from time to time, he can 
only depend upon the uncertainty of correspondence to se- 
cure choice pieces by mail. He may find the coins of the 
nearest Branch Mint in high condition, but wait long to 
perfect his series of the others. Even the most accessible 
Mint Mark pieces are difficult to gather uncirculated. 
Hundreds of the Philadelphia issue have been for a long 
period saved annually in this condition, but very few coined 
elsewhere. We know, from prolonged visits to New Orleans 
and acquaintance with the very courteous officials of the 
Mint and sub-treasury there during the winters of 1892-'3, 
that about the only pieces of each year's coinage that escape 
circulation are the very few written for from a distance and 
those taken by visitors as keepsakes ; but we were less sur- 
prised at this when we sought several months in vain for 
collectors in New Orleans and found no reputable coin deal- 
ers other than money brokers. 

As to San Francisco, we know from correspondence that 
the coinage of the mint there has been very little collected, 
and is most difficult to procure of even a few years back in 
uncirculated condition. We have heard of no collectors in 
Carson City, Dahlonega, or Charlotte who might search cur- 
rent money or bank accumulations for the coins of these 
mints in past years. 

Why is it that the South and the far West neglect such 
great numismatic opportunities ? As a striking illustration 



15 

of the result, we mention that the Twenty Cent piece was, in 
1877, limited in coinage to but five hundred and ten 
' Proofs ' struck, of course, in Philadelphia. In 1876 there 
were ten thousand specimens of this coin struck .at Carson 
City, yet, while any one can buy the proof of '77 for about 
three dollars, the '76 CC piece is excessively rare in any con- 
dition, and would, even if worn, command two or three 
times that price from a Mint-Mark collector. Therefore a 
series of Branch Mint dates is not only difficult to gather 
individually and collectively in any condition, but is es- 
pecially so in the state numismatists most desire. There 
are, of course, some exceptions in dates of every denomi- 
nation, which from very large issues are only of value when 
uncirculated, but in general the preceding statement holds. 
An uncirculated series is thus a worthy object of numis- 
matic ambition, and choice Mint Marks will assuredly yet 
command far higher prices than the same dates from Phil- 
adelphia, or even than some of their own scarce pieces greatly 
worn. 

Meanwhile Mint-Mark values must vary, more or less, 
with the growing demand, the supply discovered, the con- 
dition, the location of the collector, and the estimates of 
sellers and buyers in different sections of the country. As 
their number increases and the good judgment of dealers 
grows with daily observation of the supply and demand and 
the prices obtained at sales, we may expect to see the worth 
of each Branch Mint coin determined in given condition 
with something of the accuracy pertaining to the pieces 
issued at Philadelphia. 

But existing rare dates of Mint Marks and uncirculated 
pieces should be searched for without delay that the supply 
may be known. Persons near the Branch Mints with ac- 
cess to large quantities of coin have a great opportunity for 
rich collection and very profitable exchange in this new 
field, and upon their activity partly the question of rarity 
and value for a while depends. 



16 

UNITED STATES SILVER MINT 
MARKS. 

THE THREE CENT SILVER PIECE 

Was issued at the New Orleans Mint in 1851 only. It is 
found in many collections as a variety, and is not rare, 
though having but an eighth of that first year's coinage in 
Philadelphia. The is conspicuously placed within the 
points of the large C on the reverse. 

THE HALF DIME. 

This very interesting little coin, which was the first au- 
thorized by the United States Government, and coined at 
Philadelphia in 1792, is also in the front rank of Branch 
Mint issues. As such it was peculiarly the coin of the peo- 
ple, for in the extreme South and West no smaller denomi- 
nation has ever, been in use. It was struck in New Orleans, 
with a number of Dimes and a few specimen Half Dollars, in 
1838 when that early Branch Mint was organized. The 
Half Dime coinage continued there annually until 1860, with 
the exception of the years 1843, '45, '46, and '47. The civil 
war then terminated the mint coinage, but in 1863 the 
San Francisco Mint took its place and coined Half Dimes 
annually, with the exception of the year 1870, until 1873, 
when, as the nickel piece had proved more convenient, the 
coin was abolished. Its fixed limits and never-conflicting 
mint pieces add to the interest and economy of possessing 
a set, as no annual addition is involved. The mint series 
numbers nineteen dates, but successive varieties found ex- 
tend the writer's set to at least thirty-six. 

THE MINT HALF DIME COINAGE. 

These pieces are as follows : 1838 (of which the issue is not 
recorded in the Mint Report) is without stars, with a large 



17 

in the wreath on the reverse, and is rare. There is also 
a variety with stars and a small o, which is very rare. 
1839 is with stars (as are all to 1860), and has a small 
o. There are, apart from the perfect die, two varieties 
of broken dies. In one the break is from the elbow 
to the nearest star; in the other the break is on the 
reverse from the of ' of ' to the L of ' half.' 1840 
is found with and without the sleeve. The former has a 
small o, and is very rare ; the latter has both the small o, 
which is rare, and the large variety, which is very rare. 

1841 has large and small o varieties, both being scarce. 

1842 has a small o only, and is very rare. There was no 
coinage in 1843. 1844 has a large 0, which is very rare, 
and a small o, which is rare. In 1845, '46, and '47 there 
was no O mint coinage. 1848 has a large and a small o, 
both rare. 1849 has a large O only, and is the rarest O 
mint half dime. 1850 has a large and a small o, the lat- 
ter being very rare. 1851 has a large 0. 1852 has the 
same only, and is very rare. The large O continues in 1853, 
of which date there are two varieties, one with arrows, being 
common, and one without, rare. There is also an exceed- 
ingly rare variety with a broken die, which gives the date 
the appearance of being over '51. 1854 has a large 0, which 
is sometimes close to the letters and sometimes to the bow- 
knot. It is a common enough date. 1855 has a large O, 
and is scarce. 1856 has a large 0, and high and low date 
varieties. 1857 has a high oval and a low round o. 
1858 has a large 0, and the ribbon and stem at right touch- 
ing in one variety and well apart in another. 1859 has a 
large with high and low varieties, both being scarce. 
1860 is without stars, the legend replacing them, and has a 
different wreath on the reverse. The o is small, and, for the 
first time, is under the wreath instead of within it. There 
are high and low o varieties. 

We have also two worn specimens of 1837 without stars, 
and sufficient traces of a small o in the proper place to con- 
vince us that some Half Dimes were coined experimentally 



18 

in New Orleans in that year with a die similar to the one 
then used in Philadelphia, although the New Orleans Mint 
was not regularly organized until 1838. As the coinage of 
Half Dimes at New Orleans in the latter year was not re- 
corded, though well known, we are the more assured of the 
authenticity of our '37 mint pieces which were found in 
New Orleans, and we consider them excessively rare. 

While the half dimes of '37, without stars, was coined in 
Philadelphia that variety of '38 was issued only at New Or- 
leans, all struck at the parent mint having stars. The rare 
mint dates we review in order, 1849, '44, '42, '52, '38, and 
'48, the rarest first. 

THE S MINT HALF DIME COINAGE 

Bears a very small Mint Mark, which, with one exception, is 
under the wreath. The dies of the coin are those of the 
same date of the New Orleans and Philadelphia Mints, a 
seated Liberty surrounded by " United States of America" 
and a wreath of x wheat, &c, on the reverse. 

The first five dates, 1863, '64, '65, '66, 'and '67, were of 
small coinage, and are scarcer than most of the preceding 
dates, but by no means as rare as the similar Philadelphia 
dates, whose places they generally hold in collections. 1884 
is the scarcest of the five, followed by '83. 1868 and '69 are 
more common. In 1870 no Half Dimes were coined in San 
Francisco. 1871 is the only date with the S within the 
wreath, and is exceedingly scarce. 1872 and '73 have the S 
below as usual, and the latter is somewhat scarce. We have 
discovered no varieties in the S mint coinage, our set thus 
numbering ten pieces. 

Since the Half Dime was abolished in 1873 the inconve- 
nience of the small piece has resulted in the annual remit- 
tance to the Treasury and the Mints of hundreds of dollars 
worth which street car companies, etc., are glad to have de- 
stroyed. Consequently very few Half Dimes now exist in 
circulation ; their general scarcity and rarity is augmenting, 
and the small space a collection occupies will assure them 
ever increasing favor. 



19 

THE DIME 

Has been coined at New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson 
City. 

THE MINT DIME COINAGE 

Has several sizes of the indicative letter which maybe classi- 
fied in three: the large, which is about the height of the let- 
ters of the legend "United States of America" on the coin, 
the medium, about two-thirds, and the small, about one-half 
or rather less. 

The complete series of dates and the varieties found areas 
follows : 

1838, the first date coined, is a piece without stars or 
legend around the seated Liberty on the obverse, and 
with a large under " one dime," and within the wreath on 
the reverse. 'It is quite scarce. 1839 has thirteen s'ars 
around the figure on the obverse, wmich continue until noted 
beyond. The reverse is in general the same as '38, but offers 
two varieties, a medium and a small o. 1840, which we have 
seen ' without drapery ' only, has also two varieties, a large 
and a small o. 1841 has a small o. 1842 has a small o. 
1843 has a small o, and is quite scarce. There was no coin- 
age in 1844. 1845 has a large 0, and is scarce. In 1846, 
'47, and '48 there were no Dimes coined at New Orleans. 
1849 has two varieties, a large and a small o, and is some- 
what scarce. 1850 has a large and a small o. 1851 has a 
large 0. 1852 has a large 0. 1853 has a large 0, and is the 
first Dime with arrowheads. We have seen no variety of 
1853 without. 1854 has a large and arrowheads. There 
was no coinage in 1855. 1856 has a large and a medium 
o, and the arrows are abandoned. We have also a large O 
variety with the legend so faintly struck as to be hardly per- 
ceptible. The large date '56 is found only in Philadelphia 
coinage. ^57 has a large 0. 1858 has a large 0, and is 
scarce. 1859 has a large and a medium o placed lower 
than usual. In i860 the stars give place to the legend, 
and on the reverse the o is very small, and for the first time 
appears under the changed wreath, as in the Half Dime of 



20 

the same date. The 1860 Dimes is of very small issue, ex- 
ceedingly rare, and a great prize. 

At this period the civil war occasioned a long interval in 
O mint coinage, and not until 1891 were Dimes again struck. 
The piece of that date resumes the design of 1860 on obverse 
and reverse, but has a medium o under the wreath in two 
varieties, one well centered and one close to right ribbon. 
In 1892 the seated Liberty is replaced by a wreathed head 
facing to the right, and the wreath on the reverse is changed 
in various slight details. The continues of medium size 
under the wreath. 1893 is similar in all respects to 1892 

The years of no coinage being 1844, '46, '47, '48, and '55, 
five in all, it will be seen that the dates of the O series from 
1838 to '93, inclusive, number twenty-one, to which the ad- 
dition of seven varities named make twenty-eight as the 
complete set. The smaller o of six of these varieties is uni- 
formly rarer than the large one. 

THE S MINT DIME COINAGE. 

The mint mark letter S identifying this series may also, 
as in the preceding, be divided into three sizes : The large, 
being somewhat larger than the letters of the legend, the me- 
dium, somewhat smaller, and the small, about half their 
height and quite minute. 

1856 is the first date of this series, the date being always 
small. Stars surround the seated Liberty, the obverse and 
reverse dies being similar to the mintage of the same 
period. The S is large and in the wreath. The piece is rare. No 
1857 Dime was coined at San Francisco. 1858 has a medium 
s, and in other respects is similar. It is rare. 1859 has a me- 
dium s, and is also rare. 1860 is especially interesting from 
continuing the stars when the and P coinages of this date 
had discarded them. A medium s remains within the 
wreath. It is scarce. In 1861 the new dies, with a legend 
around the figure and the wreath of oak and wheat, 
were used. A small s first appears and is placed under the 
wreath. 1862 is the same. 1863 continues these character- 



21 

istics, and is rather scarce, but the Philadelphia dates from 
'63 to '67 are all far rarer than the S coinage. 1864 S is like 
'63, and is comparatively common. 1865 continues the small 
s below the wreath, as does 1866. The latter ia scarce. 
1867 is scarce also and similar in detail, except the S is not 
quite so small. 1868 and 1869, however, continue the 
minute s. 1870 is unchanged, but a small coinage makes 
it very rare. 1871 is abundant. 1872 is rather scarce. 
1873 introduces arrows for the first time at each side of the 
date. The variety without does not seem to exist in the S 
coinage. 1874 continues the arrowheads and the small s. 
1875 omits the arrowheads. It has two varieties, a medium 
s within the wreath in one, the usual small s below in the 
other. In 1876 the latter only has been found. In 1877 also. 

A long break in the sequence of the San Francisco coinage 
then occurs, but in 1884 the same design and the small s 
under the wreath are maintained. It and the five preced- 
ing dates are all very abundant, but in 1885 the smallest 
issue of the whole series makes that piece very rare. The S 
is almost medium in size. This somewhat larger S than 
usual under the wreath continues in the ample coinage of 
1886 and the very large ones of 1887 and 1888. 1889 has 
two varieties, a medium s and a small scarce s. In 1890 the S 
is larger. 1891 presents it small. In 1892 and '93 it is nearly 
of medium size, still under the somewhat varied wreath. The 
obverse of this date gives the new design of a garlanded bust 
turned to the right, and the date is smaller than any preced- 
ing it except 1856. None of these dates are scarce after '85. 

In reviewing the 8 series it will be seen that the years of 
no coinage were 1857 and from 1878 to '83. The rarities are, 
in order of importance, 1885, '70, '58, '59, and '56. 1866, '60, 
'67, and '63 are rather scarce. The dates and varieties men- 
tioned number thirty-three, to and including 1893. 

THE CC MINT DIME COINAGE 

Is recognized by two very small c's, smaller than the small s 
of the last series, and they do not vary perceptibly through- 
out the eight dates of this mint issued. 



22 

The first Dime of Carson City is that of 1871, with the 
seated Liberty surrounded by "United States of America," 
on the obverse, as in the P and S coinage of the same year, 
and the wreath of wheat, corn, oak, &c, on the reverse. This 
piece and the three succeeding dates are all very rare. The 
CC are close together and under the wreath in these. 1872 
is the second date. 1873 we know of without the arrow- 
heads only. 1874 is the highest rarity of the four. 

We have 1875 in three varieties : The first has a close CC 
below the wreath, the second has a close CC within the 
wreath, and the third has a wide C C within the wreath, the 
latter two very scarce. 1876 has the usual close CC under 
the wreath. 1877 repeats this, and has a variety, with the 
CC a trifle larger. 1878 continues the close CC. It is some- 
what scarce, but the three dates before it very common. 

The Dime has not been coined at the Carson City Mint 
since 1878, and probably will not be in future. 

COMPARATIVE TABLE. 

The issues of the three Branch Mints named are associated 
with the Philadelphia dates of dimes in the following inter- 
esting list : 

1838, P. 0; 1839, P. 0; 1840, P. 0; 1841, P. 0; 
1842, P. 0; 1843, P. 0; 1844, P; 1845, PO; 1846, P ; 1847, 
P; 1848, P; 1849, P. 0; 1850, P. 0; 1851, P. 0; 1852, P. ; 
1853, P O; 1854. P. 0; 1855, P; 1856, P. S; 1857, P. 0; 
1858, P. O. IS ; 1859, P. O. S ; 1860, P. 0. S ; 1861, P. S ; 1862, 
P. S; 1863, P. S; 1864, P. S; 1865, P. S; 1866, P. S ; 1867, 
P.S; 1868, P.S; 1869, P. S ; 1870, P. S; 1871,P.S.CC; 1872, 
P. S. CC; 1873, P. S. CC; 1874, P. S. CC; 1875, P. S. CC; 
1876, P. S. CC; 1877, P. S. CC; 1878, P. CC; 1879, P; 1880, 
P; 1881, P; 1882,P; 1883, P; 1884, P. S ; 1885, P.S; 1886, 
P. S ; 1887, P. S; 1888, P. S; 1889, P. S; 1890, P. S ; 1891, 
P. S. O ; 1892, P. S. ; 1893, P. S. 0. 

No date has more than three pieces, and it will be seen 
that the collector triplicates his dates in but fourteen years 
of the fifty-five from 1838 to '93. He doubles them only in 
thirty-one years, and in ten the Philadelphia pieces stand 
alone. Thus Mint Marks are not, after all, such a great 
extravagance. 



23 

THE TWENTY CENT PIECE, 

Like the silver Three Cent and the gold Three Dollar coins, 
has but very little for the interest of the Mint-Mark col- 
lector except in one rarity. 

The Philadelphia Mint issues of 1875, 76, 77, and 78 
complete that series. The coinage of every date was small, 
especially the latter two, which were in "proof only. 
The only S Mint piece, 1875, has a small s directly over 
the Y. There were coined considerably over one million of 
these pieces, or nearly six times the amount of all other coin- 
age of them. The Carson City Mint coined a moderate 
quantity in 1875 with the C C wide apart, one over the Y 
the other over the " c " of ' cents ; ' also a small quantity in 
1876 The pieces of 1876 CC have become very rare, as we 
have mentioned in our preface, from the negligence of West- 
ern collectors, or the indifference of all to Mint Mark rarities 
while the proofs of 78 (coined in Philadelphia to but about 
a twentieth of the amount), can at any time be bought. 
Thus the twenty cent piece has but three Mint Mark dates 
one being a prize We have not remarked any varieties. 

THE QUAKTER DOLLAR 

Has been coined at New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson 
City. 

THE MINT QUARTER DOLLAR COINAGE 

Began in 1840, and, excepting the years 1845, '46, and '48, 
continued to 1860. After a long interval, begun by the civil 
war, it was resumed in 1891, and continued with the new bust 
of Liberty design in 1892 and '93. The coinage of the ex- 
isting mint quarter of 1849 is not recorded in the Mint 
Report. The scarcer dates are 1851, '62, '91, and '55. The 
Mint-Mark letter may be classified in this series as of three 
sizes, a large, a medium, and a small. The large is nearly 
as large as the letters of the legend, the medium about two- 
thirds, the small about one-half the height of these letters. 
The complete set of dates and a few varieties we have found 
are here described: 1840 has a small date and well-known 



24 

varieties with and without a sleeve, the latter being appar- 
ently peculiar to this mint. The sleeve variety has a me- 
dium o over the " R " of QUAR., and by the point of the left 
stem, the other a large over the space to the right of the 
" R," and evenly placed between the stems. 1841 has also a 
small date and two varieties of the medium sized o, one 
being over the " R " and the other over the space to the right, 
as before. 1842 has a large date and the medium o over the 
space. In the O mint it is as easy to get as the preceding ? 
but is very rare in the Philadelphia coinage, and most col- 
lectors will find themselves depending on a Mint Mark for 
this date. 1843 has a small o over the space and a large 
date. 1844 has a medium o over the space. 

There was no coinage, it will be remembered, in 1845 and 
'46. In 1847 the date is very large, and the medium o is 
over the space. 1848 continues the size of the date and of 
the last piece, but the is high between the stems. In 1849, 
a piece only scarce, there was no coinage recorded in the O 
Mint Report, but neither this piece or others in the '40's 
have the scarcity of similar Philadelphia dates. 1850 has a 
medium o close to the right stem and an upright 5 in date, 
unusual in the '50's. 1851 has a large close to the left 
stem, and is the scarcest piece of the series, though not 
strictly rare. 1852 is quite scarce. It presents a large 
close between the stems and over the space. 1853 appears 
with arrowheads and the rays, used only in this year's issue. 
It is quite common. If the rare variety without arrows and 
rays exists in coinage we have not yet heard of it. 

There are two varieties as regards the location of the large 
mint mark, one is well centered over the space, the other 
is close to the notch of the stems 1854 has arrowheads only 
and the large in two varieties, one well centered over the 
space, the other broadly restruck, and touching the R on the 
upper right curve. 1855 has a large over the R, and is 
rather scarce. 1856 has an upright 5 in the large date and 
a large over the space. The arrowheads cease. 1857 pre- 
sents a large date and a large O high above the R and be- 



25 

tween the stems. 1858 has the lower, but is otherwise 
similar, except in an upright 5 in the large date. 1859 has 
a small date and a well-centered large 0. 1860 shows the 
same details. An interval then extends to 1891. This piece 
unchanged in design, has a medium date and a small o be- 
tween the stems high over the right side of the R. It will 
be rather scarce. 1892 offers the new dies of a garlanded 
bust facing right and an heraldic eagle on the reverse. 
The date is of medium size and the Mint Mark is an exceed- 
ingly small o, just under the middle of the tail and over the 
R. 1893 continues the new design. This series numbers 
twenty-one dates to 1863, and a few varieties which can 
doubtless be increased. 

THE S MINT QUARTER DOLLAR COINAGE 

Began in San Francisco in 1855, fifteen years after the first 
date, and, with the exception of the years 1863, '70, 79 to 
'87, inclusive, '89 and '90, have been struck annually to the 
present year. 

A very interesting feature of this series is the large size of 
the Mint Mark on the earlier dates. The " S " exceeds in 
proportions those of the word " States." There are at least 
three other sizes on later dates, which may be called medium 
small, and very small, ranging from within the height of let- 
ters of the legend to hardly more than a dot. They are in- 
variably under the eagle on the reverse. There are twenty- 
six dates of this series to 1893 and a few varieties. We 
describe in detail the set we have thus far gathered. 

The 1855 has slanting fives, arrow heads, and a large S 
high over the space to the right of the R. The 1856 has an 
upright 5, no arrow T s, a large high date and a large S high 
over the R. It has also a variety with the S high over the 
space. 1857 has a large date and a large S highly placed 
almost over the space. It is not common. 1858 continues 
the upright 5 and large date. A large S is high over the 
space. 1859 commences the small dates and has a large S 
nearly over the space. It is not common. 1860 presents a 



26 

small date and a large S high over the space. It is a scarce 
piece. 1861 continues the small date. The large S is well 
centered over the space. 1862 only varies in the large S 
being high over the space. It is somewhat scarce. There 
was no coinage in 1863. 1864 has a medium date and a 
large S high over the space. It is the date of smallest coin- 
age in the S series and is very rare. 1865 continues the 
medium date that rules hereafter. It has a large S high over 
the space and is scarce. 1866 is the first of the series with 
the motto "In God We Trust." It is also the first to dismiss 
the large mint mark and show a very small s that con- 
tinues with little change through the rest of the San Fran- 
cisco Quarters. The 8 in this date is close to the poim of 
the left stem and over the R to the left. The piece is very 
rare, ranking next to '64. In 1866, for the first time, the 
Philadelphia quarter has a smaller coinage and so continues 
for the next three years, but could be more readily found 
especially in fine condition. 1867 repeats the details of the 
preceding date. We have found it also very rare. 1868 and 
1 869 have the same appearance but are not scarce. There 
was no coinage in 1870. In 1871 the small s crowds upon 
the point of the left stem. The piece is very rare. 1872 
has the S midway between the left stem and the R. 1873 
we have found only with the arrow heads which had been 
omitted since 1855. The s is smaller than before — the very 
small size — and is well centered between the stems, nearly 
over the space. 1874 again omits the arrow heads and has 
the same details regarding the Mint Mark as the preceding 
date. Of 1875 the same may be observed. 1876 shows two 
varieties, one with the very small s nearly over the space 
and the other with a medium small s over the R. 1877 also 
has two varieties — a small s close above the R and a medium 
small s highly placed nearly over the space. 1878 has a 
medium small s well centered nearly over the space. All 
these dates after '71 should be readily found — 1874 to 77 
being especially abundant. 



27 

An interval of coinage then occurs until 1888 when there 
was another great issue which should be distinguished from 
the very rare Philadelphia piece of this date. 

The 1888 S has a medium small Mint Mark well centered 
nearly over the space. 1891 was the next year of coinage 
and will be rather scarce. There are two varieties. In one 
the medium small s is rather high and almost over the 
space, in the other it is centered over the R. In 1892 the 
new designs of a garlanded bust, facing right on the obverse 
and an heraldic eagle on the reverse side appeared on the 
San Francisco coinage simultaneously with that at New 
Orleans and Philadelphia. The S Mint Mark is exceedingly 
small. It touches the middle of the eagles tail and is just 
over the P. 1893 we have not yet received. 

This list gives a total in dates and varieties of thirty pieces 
for the S mint series from 1855 to '93. We review the rarest 
dates as those of 1864, '66, '71 and '67, and the scarce ones 
of the years 1860 and 1865. 

THE CC MINT COINAGE OF QUARTER DOLLARS 

Extended from 1870 to 1878 with the exception of the year 
1874, so that there are eight dates in this interesting series, the 
first four being of very small coinage. 1870 has a medium 
date and a widely spaced small c c over the letters A and R 
of QUAR, It has the smallest coinage of the series, and is 
exceedingly rare. 1871 has the same details and is also ex- 
ceedingly rare. Of 1872 the same may be said, and in 
rarity it ranks next to 1870. 1873 has the same details and 
two varieties, one with arrow heads to the date and the other 
without. Both are exceedingly rare. 1875 has a large date 
and a close cc over the R and the space to the right. It is 
not common. 1876 has a large date, and two varieties — the 
close small cc high over the R and a slightly larger cc, not 
so high. 1877 has a small date and a close small cc over 
the R. 1878 has a small date and a close relatively large 
CC over the R and partly over the space. The latter three 
dates were coined in immense quantities. 



28 

The largest size of the very little varying Mint Mark of 
this series is very small in comparison with that of other 
mints, for it was used after the obtrusive Mint Marks 
of the early dates, especially the San Francisco pieces, had 
yielded to an evidently general policy of making them 
merely sufficient for identification if necessary. 

The three Branch Mintages of Quarters conflict very little. 
The Mint issues are alone from 1840 to '54. From '55 to 
'60 there are O and S Mints. The S series then runs alone 
to '69. From '70 to '78 with one exception in each mintage, 
it has the CC dates in its company. Then, except a single S 
Mint coinage in '88, there is a break to 1891, when the O 
and S Mints resume, and have since continued. 

THE HALF DOLLAR 

Has been coined at the Mints of New Orleans, San Francisco 
and Carson City. These Mintages are related to each other 
very much as are the Quarters to which we have just 
referred. The dates run alone from 1838 to 1854. From 
1855 to '61 the and S pieces are contemporary. The S 
series then continues alone until 1870, when the Carson 
City coinage starts in and accompanies it to 1878. Then all 
Branch Mint coinage of Half Dollars ceases until 1892, when 
at San Francisco and New Orleans they are struck with the 
new dies. 

It will be remarked that, up to the latter year, there are 
only seventeen doubled pieces to be added to the Philadelphia 
dates in a period of fifty-five years. The collector, therefore, 
who, without investigation, has fancied that he would need 
to buy perhaps three Mint Mark pieces for each year of the 
half century, may be much reassured. 

THE MINT COINAGE OF HALF DOLLARS 

Commences in 1838. There is no record of that year in the 
Mint Report, and probably only a few specimen pieces were 
struck, as less than a dozen are now known, and they are 
not merely among the rarest Mint Marks, but the rarest 



29 

pieces of United States coinage. The value tins high Mint 
Mark rarity has acquired augurs well for others when the 
whole subject is more familiar to collectors. The 18S8 Half 
Dollar has a medium sized o on the obverse of the piece and 
beneath the bust of that year. 1839 retains the under 
the bust facing left on the obverse. The piede has a large 
date and is not common. In 1840 the dies of the Half Dol- 
lar were changed, and the seated Liberty and spread eagle 
continued long afterwards. The date is small, and an of 
the large size is under the eagle, on the reverse (as always 
since), and just over the ' F ' of the word HALF. 

There is a variety of this date with a very small o mid- 
high over the F. There is no other small o until '92 r and what 
we have termed the large size is not much more than half 
the height of the letters on the reverse. 1841 has a small 
date and a well-centered large over the F. 1842 shows a 
large date and a large mid-high over the F in one variety, 
and over the space between L and F in another. 1843 has 
the large date, which so continues as not to need further ref- 
erence, and a large somewhat to the right, over the F. 
1844 has two varieties, a large 0, rather high over the F, and 
a medium sized o placed lower. There is also a curious re- 
strike of this mint date. 1845 has an upright 5 and a 
medium o mid-high over the F. 1846 resumes the large 0, 
which is high over the F. 1847 is similar. 1848 only varies 
in that the about touches the stem above. 1849 has also 
a large, very high O directly over the F. We find 1850 the 
same, and 1851. None of these dates from '39 down can be 
called scarce. 1852, however, claims that distinction. It 
resembles the two or three preceding pieces. 1853 appears, 
as at Philadelphia, with arrowheads for the first time, and 
rays on the reverse for the only time The Ois large. This 
piece is common, but, if the judgment of several authorities 
is well founded, there is a variety of the 1853 mint with- 
out arrows and rays similar to the Quarter of the Philadel- 
phia Mint, but never known in the Half Dollar coinage of 
that institution, which takes at a bound the highest place 



30 

among Mint Mark rarities. Such a piece has been purchased 
as genuine for considerably over one hundred dollars. It 
was found in the West. We are disposed to recognize the 
possibility of such a variety, but, as we have seen the usual 
pieces with the rays and arrows so skillfully removed as to 
' deceive the -very elect,' we warn collectors to be very much 
on their guard. 1854 continues the arrowheads, and has a 
large O mid-high over the F in one variety, while in an- 
other it is nearly over the space and close to the stem. 1855, 
with arrowheads also, shows the usual Mint- Mark high over 
the F. 

In 1856 the arrowheads disappear for good. The large 
is so high over the F as nearly to touch the stem. Besides 
the ' perfect date ' of this piece we have two restrikes, one 
below the figures and one above. Whether from a defective 
machine or unskilled workman the frequent 1856 restruck 
dates are usually of the mint. The 1857 piece has the 
close to the stem also, and rather to the right of the F. 1858 
and 1859 present the same details. In 1860 the is merged 
with the stem above the F. 186 L shows the mint mark 
nearlv touching the stem, above the F also. 

After a long interval the Half Dollar was struck in 1892 
with the new bust and heraldic eagle dies. The date is small, 
and a small o is directly under the middle of the eagle's tail 
and over the D. There is one rare variety of this piece with 
an exceedingly small o, hardly larger than a period. 

The 1893 as far as we have seen, resembles the usual preced- 
ing date. It is scarce. There are twenty-five years in this series 
to '93. As the coinage of most of the Mint dates was very 
large, they are easily obtained in some condition, except 
the 1852 scarce piece and the two superlative rarities we 
have referred to, which give this series its greatest interest to 
the numismatist. The Half Dollar of 1861 and the Double 
Eagle of the same date, were the only denominations coined 
that year at New Orleans on the eve of the war, all the other 
issues having ceased with the preceding date. It has been 
said that the major part of the large quantity of these Half 



31 

Dollars existing were coined with the remaining U. S. dies 
by the Confederacy in their pressing need of silver. We 
have heard this denied at the New Orleans Mint. At all 
events the coins cannot decide the matter t>r the different 
issues would have a greater interest. 

THE S MINT HALF DOLLAR COINAGE 

Is one of the most attractive series of all the Branch Mint 
issues. The Mint Mark has a greater number of sizes than 
in any other. There are a greater number of varieties than 
any except the Half Dime, and the Half Dollar has, from 
its size, an advantage over the latter in being seen in every 
detail without the use of a magnifying glass. 

The conspicuous character of the largest S of the early 
San Francisco dates is thus even more notable on the 
Halves than the Quarters of this Mintage. It is quite as 
large or a little larger than the S's of the word 'states.' 
There is next a modified large S with a shorter upper curve. 
Then a medium s, a small s, and a very small s which occu- 
pies no more space than one of the periods on the piece. 
With a glass further distinctions might be made, but these 
will suffice for practical use. 1855 is the first year of the S 
Mint series. The date is large with far sloping 5's and with 
arrow heads. The Mint Mark is a large S placed close to 
the stem over the f of 'half.' This piece, though the 
reported coinage hardly warrants it, has become very rare, 
either from small issue perhaps or export. 1856 is without 
arrows, as are all afterwards down to '73, the date is large, 
with an upright 5 The large S is located as in '55. The 
1857 has two varieties, a large S placed as in the preceding 
dates and a medium s high over the space between the F 
and D. Both varieties are very scarce and the latter may 
be called rare. The date continues large. 1858 presents the 
last large date and has two varieties, a large S high over the 
F and a medium s mid-high rather over the right of F. In 
1859 the long continued medium date begins. The piece 
has two varieties, a Inrge S high over the F, rather to the 



32 

right and a medium s high, directly over the F. 1860 shows 
a large S high over the F, and a nearly as large S, but with a 
shorter upper curve, similarly placed on a second variety. 
1861 offers two varieties also, a large S located as before and 
a medium s not so high over the F. In 1862 these varieties 
are repeated, but the medium s is rather smaller than the 
preceding one. 1863 has the first small s which is placed 
high over the space to the left of the F. 1864 gives two varieties 
again, a large S nearly over the space to the right of the F 
and a small s over the space to the left. The large S ceases 
with this date for 1865 shows only a small s mid-high over 
the staff of the F. 1866 has two varieties of a new character, 
one with the preceding plain field over the eagle, which has 
no counterpart in any other mintage of this date, and with 
a small s over the F, rather to the right; the second intro- 
ducing on the field for all pieces thenceforward a scroll 
bearing the inscription 'In God We Trust.' This second 
has the small s over the space to the left of the F. 1867 has 
a small s high over the F. 1868 locates the same s high 
over the space to the left of the F. In 1869 the small s is 
just over the F and high. 1870 presents it over the F, but 
at lesser height." 1871 has two varieties, a small s moderately 
high, and a rather smaller s close to the stem, both over 
the F. 

In 1872 two varieties are again found, one having a small 
s high over the F, the other placing it low over the space to 
the right. The 1873 date is accompanied by arrowheads, 
and has a small s close to the stem, over the space to the left 
of the F. 1874 continues the arrowheads, and has three 
varieties of slightly different small s's; one is very low over 
the space between F and D, the second is high over the F, 
and the third is high over the ' L ' of ' half.' 1875 dis- 
continues the arrowheads, and has also three varieties, a 
small s high over the F, another centered over the space to 
the right, and a very small s very close to the stem over the 
F. 1876 gives two varieties, one is a small s well centered 
over the F, the other a very small s placed as in the last 



33 

date. In 1877 we have a. small s high over the F, and, in 
a variety, the smallest sized s, well centered, over the F also. 

All the pieces of this series, thus far, except 1855 and '57, 
should he readily found, but in the next date, 1878, we have 
the great rarity of the San Francisco Half Dollar coinage. It 
presents a very small s high over the F. After its very 
small coinage there was a break in the issue of this denomi- 
nation until 1892, when the new dies of a bust of Liberty 
and an heraldic eagle were used, as at Philadelphia and New 
Orleans. A very small s is placed in this piece at the lowest 
point of the eagle's tail and just over the D. There is a 
variety with the S slightly larger and well centered. No 
coinage is probable in 1893. 

There are, including dates to 1892, twenty-five pieces in 
the S mint series, and at least fifteen varieties. As the Halves 
at San Francisco were coined in much greater quantity than 
the Quarters, and are less worn usually by circulation, the 
collector can hope to collect a set of the former in much 
higher average condition. 

THE CC MINT COINAGE OF HALF DOLLARS 

Is, unlike its series of Dimes and Quarters, an unbroken se- 
quence of nine dates from 1870 to 1878. Unlike them, also, 
however, no year's coinage was so very small as to be ex- 
tremely rare. Yet three dates may be called very scarce 
and one variety rare. 1870 is the first of these dates. It has 
a pair of small upright cc's, close togther, and high over the 
F, rather to the left. 1871 and 1872 repeat these details. 
The former date, while not scarce, is certainly not common. 
1873 presents two varieties. The first has a plain date, and 
the Mint Mark consists of two very small round cc's, close 
together, in the same location as before. This variety we 
consider rare. The second presents, for the first time, arrow- 
heads at each side of the date, and has the upright, small, 
close cc's of preceding years. 1874 continues the arrowheads, 
and has the very small, close, rounded cc's high over the F, 
rather to the left. It is the second scarce date. 1875 dis- 



34 

continues the arrowheads, and offers two varieties. The first 
has the small upright cc's, but widely separated, in the usual 
location. The second shows the very small, rounded, close 
Mint Mark placed as before. 

' In 1876 we have again two varieties, small, close, upright 
cc's, rather to the left, over the F, and very small, rounded, 
close cc's directly over this letter. 1877 extends its varieties 
to three. The first is a very small, rounded, close pair of 
cc's high over the F and space to the right ; the second a 
wider separated pair of upright small cc's high over the F, 
and to the left; the third gives the latter Mint Mark placed 
lower over the F. 1878 is the third scarce date of the series. 
Its Mint Mark, placed over the space to the left of the F, is 
the small upright pair of cc's in two varieties, one having the 
cc's even, the other having the first c higher than the sec- 
ond. Varieties thus extend the Carson City Half Dollar set 
to fifteen pieces. 

N THE SILVER DOLLAR, 

Which has been such a cause of financial agitation of late 
years, and of which so many millions have been coined an- 
nually since 1878 not only at Philadelphia, but at each one 
of the Branch Mints of New Orleans, San Francisco and 
Carson City, seems, at first thought, too bulky, common and 
cumbrous a coin for the Mint Mark collector. To include 
dollars he must add, after a few early dates, three pieces 
each year from 1878 to the present to his Philadelphia series. 
But if he is an enthusiast in Mint Marks, he cannot omit 
the final silver series, especially if so easily acquired, for, as 
dollars have less wear than other denominations, he, if not 
willing to buy very fine or uncirculated specimens from the 
dealers, can find many dates of choice condition at the 
nearest bank. They will at any time realize more than 
third or fourth-rate coins of low intrinsic worth for which 
they might be spent. Interest only will be lost and, as 
mint mark coinage decreases and its collectors increase, 
even the dollars of desirable condition will surely yet com- 



35 

mand a good premium. And futhermore, despite the 
immense quantities of the majority of dates coined, there 
are certain rare pieces in the early issues of every Branch 
Mint which a numismatist may be very proud tQ possess. 

THE MINT SILVER DOLLAR COINAGE 

Commenced with the year 1846, when the seated figure of 
Liberty appeared on the obverse, as in the Philadelphia 
issue. The Mint Mark is of the size of the usual on the 
quarter and may be called large. It is well centered over 
the space between 'one' and 'dollar.' The piece is quite 
scarce. 1850 is the next year of coinage. The large is 
high over the space. This dollar is very scarce — the most 
so of the serie«. 

After another lapse of time the third Mint Dollar was 
coined in 1859. A large is moderately high over the space. 
The fourth coinage comes promptly in 1860 when the 
is very high. This date and the preceding are scarce. 

Then a long break occurs, commenced by the war and 
continued because no Trade Dollars were struck at New 
Orleans from 1873 to 1878 as at San Francisco and Carson 
City. When in 1879 Mint Dollars were again coined — a 
year later than the Standard Dollar resumption at the San 
Francisco and Carson City mints — the large ornate head had 
replaced the seated figure of Liberty and, on the reverse, a 
different design is also seen. The Mint Mark changes to 
a small o which is close to the center of the wreath and over 
the space between the d and o of ' dollar.' In the dates 
from 1879 to '93, the only variations from this description, 
which we have noted, are that the same small o some- 
times touches the wreath, as in examples of 1886, 1888 
and 1889, and sometimes is free. The date is also a little 
more or less removed from the star to the right. Such 
trifling differences would, we think, tempt no one to gather 
varieties of so inconvenient a piece, and we leave them un- 
detailed. 



36 

THE S MINT SILVER DOLLAR COINAGE 

Is irregular in the earlier dates, like the New Orleans series, 
and they are also much more limited in amount. 

In 1859 the first San Francisco Dollars were coined with 
the ' Liberty seated ' die. The s is nearly two-thirds of the 
size of the letters of 'states' and is high over the space 
between ' one ' and ' dollar \ The piece is rare. Not 
until 1872 was the next coinage of Dollars and it was so 
small as to make them very rare. The mint mark on our 
piece is a very small s that touches the stem directly over 
the e of 'one'. In the following year, 1873, but a few 
hundred pieces were struck which, in comparison with the 
few thousands of preceding dates and the many millions of 
those following, causes it to be excessively rare. As we have 
not yet seen or heard of a specimen we cannot give its dis- 
cription, but if any one is lucky enough to find an 1873 S 
this will be unnecessary. The small coinage of this 
standard Dollar was probably due to the making of 700,000 
of the Trade Dollars which was accomplished at San Fran- 
cisco the same year. 

THE S MINT TRADE DOLLARS. 

1873, on the obverse of which is Liberty seated upon a 
bale with other details, has as Mint Mark a very small s 
over the D slightly to the left. 1874 has a small s in a 
similar position. 1875 offers two varieties, a very small and 
a medium sized s placed as before, but rather more to the 
left of D. 1876 has a medium s in the same location. In 
1877 there is no change of Mint Mark, but, in addition to 
the regular piece, there is a curious variety resulting from 
the slipping of the ' collar ' in the process of coinage. This 
gives an edge milled through half its thickness only, the 
rest being plain. The variety is known as the 1877 S mint 
half-milled dollar, and is rare. 1878 has the same rare 
variety. The regular piece has the S more nearly over the 
D. After 1873 the Trade Dollars were coined by millions 
annually, and no date should ordinarily be rare, but owing 



37 

to export and the recall of about the entire amount of Trade 
Dollars once in circulation, few really exist out of dealers' 
and collectors' hands. 

the S mint standard dollars — Continued. 

In 1878, the last year of the coinage of Trade Dollars at 
San Francisco, the mint of that city resumed the issue of the 
more legitimate Dollar with an over-large and an over- 
ornate female head on the obverse. The Mint Mark on the 
reverse is a very small s over the space between the d and 
o of ' dollar.' In 1879 the s is small and similarly placed. 
1880 has a small crooked s. 1881 has a very small s once 
more and 1882 continues it. From 1883 on, a small s is 
seen in the same place until 1892, when a very small s 
returns. But the differences are, as in the series, too 
slight for consideration in regard to this heavy piece of 
such immense annual coinage. 1893 has a small s. 

The only dates in which somewhat less than a million 
were struck are 1886, 1888 and 1889, but condition alone can 
give value to any dollar of the S mint from 1878 to '93. It 
may be noted that the new designs of the Dimes, Quarters 
and Halves of 1892 were not extended to the Dollars, which 
in 1893 still appear as in the eighties at all mints. 

THE CC MINT SILVER DOLLAR COINAGE, 

Like that of the and S institutions, presents its rarities 
early to the collector but they are in more regular order. 

1870 was the first date of the Carson City Dollar. The 
piece has on its obverse the seated Liberty so long used. 
We have two varieties of this Mint Mark. In one the 
medium-sized, widely separated c c's are located high over 
the E and the space to the right ; in the other the CC's are 
close together in the same position. Both varieties are very 
rare as but a few thousands were struck and they are very 
little known. 

In 1871, 1872 and 1873 about two thousand Dollars only 
were coined annually at Carson City, and the}' are now ex- 



38 

tremely rare. The rarest 1871 has a large C C, rather wide, the 
first C over the E, the second touching the stem. 1872 we 
have not seen. The 1873 has the c c's of medium size and 
quite separated, one being over the E and the other over the 
space. We attribute the small coinage of Standard Dollars 
in Carson City, as at San Francisco, to the output- of a 
very large amount of Trade Dollars in 1873, with a similar 
diversion of labor to them for several years to come. 

THE CC MINT TRADE DOLLARS 

Were issued contemporaneously with those of the S Mint 
during the years from 1873 to '78 inclusive. Though coined 
in smaller quantities the amount in circulation before the 
recall of the piece was not limited enough in any date to 
cause even scarcity. But if those remaining in the posses- 
sion of collectors and dealers are proportioned relatively to 
the original coinage, the date of 1878 should be the most 
difficult to find. 

The Trade Dollar 1873 c c has a medium sized, widely sep- 
arated Mint Mark over the space before the D and the D 
itself. 1874 shows a small close pair of cc's in the same 
position. In 1875 the cc's are medium in size and close 
together over the space. 1876 has the medium and close cc's 
over the space and the D. 1877 repeats these details. 1878 
offers the largest CC of all. The letters are close together 
and are over the D and the space to the right. 

the CC mint standard dollars — Continued. 

The new design of a large ornate head adopted for all the 
Mints, was used at Carson City in 1878 for a very large coin- 
age of dollars with an individual value approximating those 
struck before 1873. The piece of 1878 has a small cc over 
the space between the d and o of 'dollar.' In 1879 the 
same Mint Mark is more over the D. 1880 has a very small 
cc over the D and the space to the right. It is not very 
common. 1881 is becoming rather scarce. 1885 is quite 
scarce and 1889 moderately so. 1893 has a medium cc 



39 

over the space between D and 0. The first C is higher than 
the second. However, in the Carson Dollars from 1878 to 
'93 the differences are so trivial that, for reasons before 
given, we will leave farther study of the millions of 
pieces annually issued to individual pleasure, * assured 
that very few will burden their drawers with more 
than a specimen of each Mint Mark date. 

Condition, we repeat, is an especially important factor of 
value in Dollars of the Branch Mints, and uncirculated 
pieces of the many abundant dates will command good pre- 
miums. Any prominent dealer could soon fill an order for 
one hundred strictly uncirculated Philadelphia coins of any 
silver denomination and date (except very few) between 1840 
and 1890, but would find an equal number of any Branch 
Mint piece very difficult to gather in the same condition. 

We have in these lists inserted the Trade Dollars in their 
regular order in the Branch Mint Coinage to better show 
their relation to the Standard Dollars and their occupation of 
the break in the series of that piece. But as many collectors 
keep their Trade Dollar set apart, we will show, in a mention 
of our array of these pieces, how an interest in Mint Marks 
may help to greatly enrich it. 

To the eleven Philadelphia Proofs from 1873 to '83 may 
be added the five uncirculated dates from 1873 to 77 of the 
same Mint, the six regular Trade Patterns, the six S Mints 
from 1873 to '78, the six CC Mints of similar dates and the 
two Half Milled S Mints of 1877 and '78, making a collec- 
tion of thirty-six pieces in all. 

As another instance of how a study of Mint Marks will en- 
able the numismatist to enrich his collection, we draw atten- 
tion to the fact that there are no less than six different Silver 
Dollars of 1873 and 1878, as follows : The standard pieces of 
the Philadelphia, the Carson City, and the San Francisco 
Mints, together with the ' Trades ' of the Carson City and 
San Francisco Mints, make five pieces for each date, and for 
the sixth the '73 P Mint can be had, both uncirculated and 
in proof, and the '78 P in proof only, with seven and with 
eight tail feathers to the eagle. 



40 

There is also a rare 1878 dollar, which has three single 
leaves on the stem in the eagle's claw instead of the usual 
three groups of three leaves each, and which, being other- 
wise, obverse and reverse, exactly like the standard P mint 
1878, does not deserve to be called a ' pattern.' But we are 
wandering somewhat, in our remarks upon general varieties, 
from the subject of Mint Marks to which this Treatise is de- 
voted. A study of them in every silver series has, however, 
now been completed. 

The years of issue at the Branch Mints of each denomina- 
tion from the Three Cent piece to the Dollar have been care- 
fully given, and all varieties thus far discovered particularly 
mentioned, both to show what are known to exist and to 
stimulate a search for others which may yet be found, a 
search not only for varieties, but for Mint Mark rare dates 
hitherto overlooked which any one may retrieve from circu- 
lation and dispose of at a high price. 

BRANCH MINT RARITIES. 

The leading coins thus referred to are here compactly 
given : 

Silver Dollars, CC, 1870, '71, 72, '73 ; S, 1859, '72, '73 ; 0, 
1846, '50. 

Half Dollars, 0, 1838, '53, no arrows or rays ; S, 1855, '57, 
'78 ; CC, '73, no arrows. 

Quarters, CC, 1870, 71, 72, 73; S, '64, '66, 71. 

Twenty Cent piece, CC, 76. 

Dimes, CC, 1871, 72, 73, 74 ; O, '60; S, '58, '59, 70, '85. 

Half Dimes, O, 1838, '42, '44, '48, '49, '52 ; S, 71. 

These pieces range from rare to extremely rare. Many 
merely scarce ones are not added that those of the first im- 
portance may be more clearly kept in mind. 

POSSIBILITIES. 

We have never heard of the following varieties in standard 
coin, but they may exist : Half Dollar, 1873, S, without ar- 
rows ; Quarters, '53, O, no arrows and rays ; ^6, S, no motto ; 



41 

'73, S, no arrows ; Dimes, '53, 0, no arrows ; '40, 0, with 
sleeve ; '73, S, without arrows. 

EXCLUSIVE MINT MARKS. 

It has already been mentioned that several dies were used 
at the Branch Mints which were either never employed at 
Philadelphia or not during the same year. The resultant 
coins have a peculiar interest, and are here assembled, being 
not patterns, but standard pieces : 

The Half Dime of 1838, 0, without stars. 

The Dime of 1838, 0, without stars. 

The Dime of 1860, S, with stars. 

The Quarter of 1840, 0, without sleeve. 

The Half Dollar of 1853, O, without arrows and rays. 

The Half Dollar of 1866, S, without the motto ' In God we 
Trust.' 

The Half Dime and Dime without stars were issued in 1837 
at Philadelphia, but not in '38. The last Philadelphia Dime 
with stars was struck in 1859. The other pieces have been 
referred to in past pages. 

UNAPPRECIATED PHILADELPHIA RARITIES. 

As a matter of interesting comparison we will follow the 
list of pieces which are rare as ' Mint Marks,' but not so as 
Philadelphia coinage, with a list of those considered rare in 
any case by dealers and collectors, and which are really 
much rarer in the Philadelphia than the Branch Mint 
issues. 

Half Dimes, 1863, '64, '65, '66, and '67, but especially the 
'64, are high rarities if without an ' S ' upon them. In the 
San Francisco Mint the coinage averaged nearly $6,000 
worth annually. In Philadelphia about $500, and of the 
1864 date but $23.50. Dimes, 1866 and '67, of Philadelphia 
have not a fifteenth of the issue of the S mint. Quarters, 
1841 and '42, are still rarer without the O, '42 especially, and 
1866, '67, '68, and '69 without the S. 1888 is very common 
with the S and very rare without it. 



42 

These points illustrate the advantage of a knowledge of 
Mint Marks even to those who do not collect them. 

Half Dollars, though several immense S Mint issues sur- 
pass greatly several large issues of similar date at Philadel- 
phia, offer but one notable greater rarity in the latter coin- 
age, that of 1852. 

In Dollars the date 1850 of Philadelphia is much rarer 
than the Mint piece, the coinage being but a fifth of the 
latter. 

Trade Dollars of the Philadelphia Mint are in a decided 
minority compared with others in the years 1874 and 75 
only, but, as we have before said, the almost entire remelting 
of the 'Trades' nullifies all influence of issue. 

Philadelphia scarce dates have not been here referred to 
except in comparison with competitive Branch Mint pieces. 
The rare ones coined in Philadelphia only, are beyond our 
province of reference. 

MINT MARK SETS. 

We have thus far spoken of Mint Marks rather as asso- 
ciated with Philadelphia contemporary dates, than as inde- 
pendent series. But there is no need of inserting them 
among the pieces of the older Mint. Kept by themselves 
the irregularities of issue are better fixed on the mind, and 
the differences in the distinguishing letters and in other pe- 
culiarities are more apparent. 

Mint Marks can be classified either according to the va- 
rious Mints or by denominations, and a collector cannot 
realize fully, until he sees the many dates and varieties of 
any mintage so arranged, how interesting and valuable 
they are. A beginner may indeed commence with Mint 
Marks only. He will thus postpone the outlay involved 
in gathering the older and rarer Philadelphia coinage, 
he will find a much larger proportion . of needed pieces 
in circulation, he will discover occasional varieties, now 
rarely possible in old coin, and he will accumulate series of 
modern pieces in desirable condition which will have high 
value in the future. 



43 



UNITED STATES GOLD MINT 
MARKS. 

The collector of United States gold coins has two diffi- 
culties to contend with. First, owing to the general prefer- 
ence for ' greenbacks/ gold is far less circulated in our 
county, except in the extreme West, than is similar coin- 
age among other nations. Secondly, the much larger export 
of gold than of silver coin tends to greatly increase the 
scarcity of remote issues. These difficulties relate, of course, 
to the Branch Mint coinages as much as to that of Philadel- 
phia, and they are all inextricably confused. Many fine gold 
collections exist, however, for, in proportion to face value, 
such coin is cheaper than silver or copper, but in collections 
of gold the mintage is disregarded. 

We have heard of no collector who, except in the gold 
Dollar series, has attempted to confine hispieces to one mint, 
and have had no opportunity to verify the gold coinage 
of the Mint Report as we have done in silver. Yet in the 
mixed pieces of any set, Mint Marks are frequent enough 
to suggest the general correctness of the Report and to 
prompt a new ambition. 

Certain gold coins have a uniformly larger issue of dates 
at some one Branch Mint than at all others, and if collectors 
or numismatic associations in New Orleans, San Francisco, 
Carson City, Charlotte and Dahlonega, or their vicinity, who 
have access to bank deposits, should begin to collect sets of 
the mintage in their sections, as well as chance scarce pieces 
of others, and should establish correspondence and exchange, 
one might soon hear of far advanced gold Mint Mark col- 
lections which would be an honor to the enterprising numis- 
matists possessing them. 

The Gold coin hunter will find the trail in the following 
pages devoted to different mintages in detail. 



44 

THE GOLD DOLLAR. 

Since the suspension of the gold Dollar coinage in 1*889, 
the piece has been much used for ornament and, regardless 
of date or condition, now commands nearly fifty cents pre- 
mium. It has attracted great attention from many collectors 
who have sought no other gold series, and its Mint Marks 
have become generally very rare. They number thirty-five 
in all. 

The New Orleans or issue has six dates as follows : 1849, 
'50, '51, '52, '53 and '55. The 1850 only is rare. 

The precious Dahlonega or ' D ' mint issues are thirteen, 
of the years 1849, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59, 
'60 and '61. Of these 1852 and '53 are rare; 1854, '57 and 
'58 are very rare ; 1860, exceedingly rare ; 1855 and '56, ex- 
cessively rare, and of 1861, which is not in the Mint Report, 
but two pieces are known, one being in our possession. 

The Charlotte or ' C mint issues are nine — 1849, '50, '51, 
'52, '53, ('54), '55, '57 and '59. Of these, 1859, '50, '52 and 
'55 range froni very rare to rare, and '54 is not to be con- 
sidered attainable as, according to the Report, but four pieces 
were coined and these are now unknown. 

The ' S ' or San Francisco issues are seven — 1854, '56, '57, 
'58, '59, '60 and '70, all being obtainable but the latter, 
w T hich is excessively rare and the only one of the gold Dollar 
Mint Marks that we do not possess. 

The following details will be of interest regarding the 
mintages named : The '49 O has a small planch et, small o 
and open wreath (at top). The '50 O has a small planchet, 
small o, slanting 5 and close w r reath. '51, '52 and '53 are 
similar, but with a large ' O,' and '55 has a slanting 5, close 
wreath and large O on a large planchet. 

The '49 D and the '50 and '51 have small planchets and 
small d's, the '49 an open wreath, and the others a slanting 5. 
The '52, '53 and '54 have small planchets and close wreaths, 
but the '52 and '53 have a large D, and the '54 a small one. 
1855 D has a large planchet and a small d, a slanting 5 and 
a close wreath. 1856 D has a large planchet, a large D, an 



45 

upright 5 and a close wreath, as have all the following (ex- 
cept as regards the absent 5 in '60 and '61). The latter two 
dates are much smaller than the others. 

The 49 C has a small planchet, a small c and a dose 
wreath, thus differing from the two other mintages of this 
date, the Philadelphia Dollar of 1849 having both varieties. 
'50 and '51 C are similar to '49 C, and with a slanting 5. 
1852 and '53 C are similar, except in having a large C. 
1855 C has a large planchet and a small c with close wreath 
and slanting 5 as before. 1857 and '59 have a large plan- 
chet, a large C, an upright 5 and the wreath continuing 
close. 

The 1854 S has a small planchet, a large S, a slanting 5 
and a close wreath. There was no coinage in 1855 at the 
Charlotte Mint. The '56 and following S dates have a large 
planchet and S, an upright 5 and the wreath close as usual. 
The 1860 S has a smaller date than the others. 

All the gold Dollars present, on the obverse, a woman's 
head of classic character on the small planchet and an Indian 
girl's head with a plumed coronet on the large. There are two 
sizes of the Indian head. The smaller size of the Philadel- 
phia date of 1855 is also seen on the 0, C and D mintages 
of the same date and on the S mintage of 1856. All other 
large planchet dates have the larger Indian head. 

THE THREE DOLLAR PIECE, 

A beautiful coin abolished with the Gold Dollar in 1889, has 
the same Indian head of larger size than the Dollars through- 
out the series. Its few Mint Marks will consequently be 
next mentioned. In 1854 only (the year of its first issue in 
Philadelphia,) the piece was coined at the New Orleans and 
Dahlonega Mints — the latter Mark being very rare and the 
O common. But at San Francisco there were issues in 
1855, '56, '57 and '60. All are very rare except the 1856, 
which, however, is interesting from having two varieties, a 
large and a small S. 



46 

With these our direct knowledge of Mint Mark varieties 
in the precious metal ceases, as we have found no gold col- 
lectors who notice them, and as our collection in bank has 
no other gold than the One Dollar and Three Dollar series 
(these being complete in all Mints, except one piece). We 
can, however, give the Branch Mint dates and rarities of the 
' Eagle Denominations,' until their varieties come to light. 

THE QUARTER EAGLE ($2.50) 

Was coined at the New Orleans Mint in the years from 1839 
to '57, except 1844, '45, '48, '49, '53 and '55. The rarest 
date is 1841 and 1842, '39, '56, '40 and '57 are scarce. 

The Dahlonega issue is from 1839 to '59, except 1858 only. 
None are common and the following dates are very rare, 
1856, '55, '54, '59, '57, '53 and '40— the rarest date being 
given first and the others in order. 

The Charlotte issue is from 1838 to '60, except the years 
1845, '53, '57 and '59. The rare date is '55, followed by '46 
'42 and '60 at greater distance. 

The San Francisco issue is from 1854 to '79, except '55, 
'64 and '74. The great prize of the series is 1858. 1876 is 
scarce, but no other date should be so from the amount 
coined. 

This ends the Quarter Eagle Mint Marks, as the coin 
has never been issued at Carson City. There are seventy- 
five in number to 1893, representing $187.50 in face value 

THE HALF EAGLE ($5.00) 

Was coined in New Orleans from 1840 to '57 except 1848, 
'49, '50, '52 and '53. No date should be even very scarce 
in the South, but '41 more nearly so. 

Dahlonega issued the piece from 1838 to '61 consecu- 
tively. The last date is very rare. 

The Charlotte issue was during the same period, except in 
the year 1845. Of the C dates, 1861 is scarcest, with '46, 
'60 and '40 in order. 



47 

The San Francisco list extends from 1854 to '88. Its 
first issue, '54, is exceedingly rare and should command a 
high price. 1864 and '76 are rare, '75 and '62 scarce. The 
rest should be readily found in the far western banks. 
Carson City issued Half Eagles from 1870 to '84 contin- 
uously. No date is of small issue and all may be hopefully 
sought where western gold circulates. 

The number of Half Eagle Mint Marks to 1893 is 115, 
representing $575.00 in face value. 



THE EAGLE OR folU PIECE. 

This was coined in New Orleans from 1841 to '61, from 
'79 to '83, and also in '88. The date 1883 is a high prize. 
1879 is very rare, '59 and '41 are rare and '57 scarce. With 
these gained, one might be sure of the rest at leisure. 

No Eagles were coined at Dahlonega or Charlotte — a great 
saving of time and money to the collector. 

The coinage at San Francisco is from 1854 to the present, 
except 1875: There are no very small issues, but pieces of 
'64 must be very scarce and '60, '76, '69, '59, '70, '55 and '67 
follow in moderating importance. 

In Carson City Eagles were coined from 1870 to '84 con- 
tinuously. 1879 is rare, 1878, '77, '73 and '76 are more or 
less scarce and chances favor the finding of the other dates 
where CC issues are much seen. 

The total Eagle Mint Marks to '93 number 80, or a face 
value of 



DOUBLE EAGLES OR $20 PIECES. 

In New Orleans Double Eagles were coined from 1850 to 
'61 and not again until 1879. 1856, '79 and '54 are very 
scarce dates. The others should be freely found. The San 
Francisco Mint has issued this coin from 1854 to the pres- 
ent (except the void year 1886), in such uniformly large 
amounts that the smallest coinage in 1887 is of 283,000 
pieces. All should be common by this criterion. 



48 

Neither at Dahlonega or Charlotte was the Double Eagle 
coined, a fact which aspiring gold collectors will be relieved 
to know. 

Carson City supplies the piece from 1870 to '85 (except 
in 1881 and '82), and from 1889 to the present date of '93. 
The first date only should be rare and 1885, '79, '78 and '81 
rather scarce. 

There are in all seventy-one Double Eagle Mint Marks 
to 1893, representing a face value of $1,420. 

The total value of all denominations of Gold Mint Marks 
to the same year is a little short of $3,050. 

While the majority of collectors engaged with the older 
Philadelphia coinage in all metals, might not desire to carry 
this additional sum, it is far less than the more advanced 
among them have spent in that direction for pieces that 
would not average in intrinsic value a fifth of the amount 
named. 

As the premiums upon gold coin are relatively much 
lower than on any other, a collection of gold Mint Marks 
would be not only a very interesting pursuit to the wealthy 
numismatist or to any prominent institution, but would 
prove neither extravagant or unprofitable, for such a col- 
lection would be a distinguishing possession and if bought 
prudently, would sell, if necessary, much closer to its cost 
than many miscellaneous collections of silver and copper 
which are thrown upon the market. 

Collectors should, at all events, if living near any one of 
the Branch Mints, seek to gather a series of one or more of 
its gold denominations. They should without fail, save the 
rarest dates of any series if chancing upon them, for with 
the decline of Mint Mark coinage, such pieces will attain 
very great value. 

These rarest pieces of Branch Mint "Gold Coinage we 
assemble on the following page in the order of Date but not 
of value, to be better remembered. 



49 



INDIAN HEAD SERIES. 



Gold Dollars.— 1850: D '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, 
'60 and '61 : C, 50, '52, '54, '55, '59 : S 1870. 
Three Dollars.— D 1854: S '55, '57, '60. 

EAGLE SERIES. 

Quarter Eagles, $2.50.-0 1841 : D 1840, '53, '54, '55, '56, 
'57 and '59: C 1855: S 1858. 

Half Eagles.— D 1861: 8 1854, '64, '76. 

Eagles.— 1883, '79, '59, '41: S 1864: CC 1879. 

Double Eagles.— 1854, '56 and '79 : CC 1890. 

There are a few more or less scarce dates in each series 
which have been already noted and are not included here 
that the rare pieces may be clearly distinguished. 

From the very limited use of gold in the greater part of 
the United States, these pieces are not to be found by 
simply waiting for them to appear in circulation as in the 
case of silver coin, nor will they form part of the collections 
that revert to dealers for sale. It becomes therefore of the 
utmost importance that dealers and collectors should use 
all influence to examine the gold reserve of the banks in 
their vicinity, or that paying tellers, and those persons who 
count the cash in Government vaults, Sub-Treasuries, 
Branch Mints and private financial institutions, should be 
somewhat informed numismatically, both for their own 
profit and the enriching of private and public collections by 
their discoveries. But it would cause less delay here also 
if some experienced collector were authorized to be present 
when the counting of coin was in progress, both to see the 
contents of sacks and to mark upon them as far as possible 
the period of the coinage they contained. 

Furnished with a number of pieces of the denominations 
undergoing count, his trained eye could quickly detect 
rarities which he could at once secure and replace. 



50 



HISTORY IN MINT MARKS. 



Among the attractions of Branch Mint coin collecting, we 
have referred to the connection these pieces have with 
national progress and the financial conditions of the country. 
This feature ever gives to Numismatics its highest dignity 
and in no coinage destitute of portraits can history be so 
well read 'between the lines' as in that of the several Mints 
of the United States. With the establishment in 1838 of 
those at New Orleans, Dahlonega and Charlotte, we mark 
the rapid prosperity of the South from its rich products and 
growing commerce. Until toward 1840, the country at 
large and the South especially had been flooded with Span- 
ish coins. But these were banished from circulation by law 
and from the first modest coinage of Dimes and Half Dimes 
at New Orleans in 1838, that mint rapidly enlarged its 
issues, especially in the Half Dollars, until local demands 
were well supplied with many millions of Mint silver. 

Few Silver Dollars were coined, as State Banks issued 
bills of this value in sufficient quantity. 

The gold coinage of New Orleans commenced soon after 
the silver, with Quarter Eagles, Half Eagles and Eagles, 
the issues of the former and latter rapidly increasing in 
amount. In the few years from 1850, millions of Double 
Eagles were added to Southern wealth, and a quantity of 
Gold Dollars. Then the entire Mint coinage gradually 
diminished until the Civil War in 1861 caused a long inter- 
ruption. From 1879 millions of Silver Dollars and a mod- 
erate number of Eagles coined at New Orleans testify to the 
South's more substantial recuperation. Within two or three 
years all denominations of Silver and several of Gold have' 
again been issued from the Mint, but owing to the early 
construction of a much larger mint at Philadelphia, the 



IS 



51 

prospects are that any great coinage at .New Orleans has 
about come to an end, unless political influence overrules 
national economy of production. 

The Mints at Dahlonega and Charlotte coined* only gold 
Quarter Eagles, Half Eagles, Three Dollar and One Dollar 
pieces. The Three Dollar piece appeared in small quantity 
in 1854 only at the D Mint. Small issues of the Dol- 
lars were made by both Mints from 1849 to '60, but the 
Eagle denominations mentioned, especially the Half Eagles, 
were struck annually in large numbers as a division of pat- 
ronage with New Orleans, and give a total Southern coin- 
age of gold quite indicative of the affluence of that section 
during the period in which it was supplied. 

The great West was meanwhile growing in population 
and material wealth with amazing rapidity. Its mixed 
races, natural advantages and invigorating atmosphere de- 
veloped the highest activity and commercial progress. When 
the discovery of the precious metals in California and Ne- 
vada made the West in 1849 an Eldorado of the world, 
its financial needs commanded recognition and its remote 
mines and population a place of coinage adjacent to them. 

The San Francisco mint was accordingly established in 
1854. Its very commencement shows the boundless resource, 
c )nfidence and energy of the section in which it was located. 
It plunged into the higher denominations of gold coinage 
at once and soon took the lion's share of the burden from 
Philadelphia. 

The first issues were nearly three million dollars worth of 
Double Eagles and over a million worth of Eagles. kxA 
though other gold and silver denominations w r ere soon 
very regularly coined they were but in moderate or small 
quantity. For nearly forty years an average of from fifteen 
to twenty million dollars worth of Double Eagles have been 
annually struck in San Francisco. This magnificence of 
wealth makes the more neglected denominations quite rare 
and therefore more desirable to the Numismatist, as his 



52 

main wish to possess the larger S mint pieces would be in 
order to spend them for the smaller ones. Very few gold or 
silver dollars were coined in San Francisco until 1873 and 
of other silver, only the Half Dollars in more than small 
or moderate quantity, although the civil war caused a long 
interruption to issues from Southern Mints and threw a 
greater burden upon the Philadelphia and Western 
production. 

Yet California has never seen the day of small things or 
of small coin in any quantity and its dates of high intrinsic 
value are far easier to collect than the small, while in the 
East the contrary is the case. When mining interests be- 
gan to affect national legislation and the dishonest Trade 
Dollar was authorized, the San Francisco Mint, as convenient 
to silver mines and Chinese commerce, plunged again into 
restless coinage with an issue of four or five millions of these 
pieces annually from 1873 to ' 78. From 1875 to '77 there 
was a flood of Halves, Quarters and Dimes also. Then it 
gave its energies to a yearly average of about eight million 
of the standard Dollars and all other pieces than gold Doable 
Eagles have since been practically disdained. 

Thus all the indications of San Francisco coinage point to 
opulence and a lavish use of money, with the prospect of 
long-assured prosperity. 

The Carson City Mint was organized to share with San Fran- 
cisco something of the burden of coinage whicli rich mines 
rapid growth and the civil war transferred so largely to the 
West. It was active from 1870 — the starting year — to 1885 
in the coinage of gold, and followed the S Mint in a much 
larger issue of Double Eagles than of other pieces; but from 
1870 to '78 it issued all current denominations of gold and 
silver in a fair relative proportion and in a peculiarly regu- 
lar and moderate annual amount. It seemed rather to be 
doing a general service in a uniform way than supplying ir- 
regular needs of the section in which it was located. 
In 1878 its silver coinage was abruptly stopped in every 



53 

denomination, owing probably to the immense issues of sub- 
sidiary coin at Philadelphia for the few preceding years, and 
in 1885 its coinage of gold yielded to other Mints also. 
Since that date the Carson City Mint has coined Double 
Eagles and Silver Dollars only. While it thus receives 
little present attention, its small coinage of many series for 
eight years the past will always attract the great interest 
of collectors. The future of the San Francisco and Carson 
City Mints, as affected by the greatly to be increased coinage 
capacity of that at Philadelphia, cannot be foretold, but it 
seems as if their distance from the East and nearness to the 
mines would, apart from any sectional support, prolong their 
usefulness. 

These brief evidences of the illustration of American 
events in the Mint Mark coinage can be followed up with 
increasing interest by a closer study of the Mint Report's 
tables of annual issues. This, however, would only begin 
the subject. Any elderly Mint officer or financier who 
has considered the monetary questions of the United States 
for the past fifty years could, no doubt, supply enough 
additional facts connected with the coinage of the Branch 
Mints to make in themselves a volume of hisloric interest. 

But, in suggesting the range and dignity of the topic, our 
purpose here is sufficiently accomplished, and we leave to 
others a study of the effects upon the Branch Mint issues of 
prosperous and disastrous commercial periods, greater or 
less product of mines, wise or imprudent legislation, large or 
small export of gold and silver, relative sectional progress 
and influence and the varying distribution of coinage 
between the Philadelphia Mint and its distant associates. 

Notf. — It should be stated, that while the dates of all denominations 
of coins at the Branch Mints are rarely entirely consecutive, the Phila- 
delphia Mint has since 1838 coined every authorized denomination of 
gold and silver money annually (however small the coinage of some 
years) except the Quarter Eagle of 1841. 



54 



CONCLUSION. 

In a final word we urge upon all American numismatists 
the giving of their attention to the Branch Mint coinage of 
our country without delay. If not to all, certainly to the 
silver series. 

A few collectors are already on the alert. Since com- 
mencing to write this Treatise we have heard of large pur- 
chases of choice Branch Mint gold at Southern and Western 
banks, of the accumulation of hundreds of uncirculated Sil- 
ver Mint Marks of late dates by prominent dealers with a 
view to future demand, and of many things which prove 
that this pursuit is not the fancy of the few or of the moment, 
but is the vigorous beginning of a permanently established 
department of numismatic science. This activity is none 
too soon. 

Circulating money contains many prizes in this new 
branch of coin study which any one may find, which each 
week's wear will injure in condition and which some early 
year's remelting may remove forever. 

Dealers have an opportunity in Mint Marks, which cata- 
logues show they are beginning to perceive, of doubling 
tripling or, at times, even quadrupling their sales of pieces 
from 1838 to the present. Collectors in different sections of 
the Union have, in the coins therein produced, an unequaled 
cause of active correspondence and profitable exchange, and 
the whole numismatic world possesses, as this Treatise has 
fully shown, substantial reason for new and zealous interest 
in modern United States Coinage. 

ERRATA. 

Page 3. — Carson Mint, second line, substitute 'and ' for ' as were.' 

Page 8— latter half. — ' Philatalist ' should be Philatelist. 

Page 18.— 'Half Dimes of '37' should be Half Dime of '37; and, under 
' S Mint Half Dimes, '84 and '83 ' should be '64 and '63. 

Page 21.— 26th line substitute ' from '92 ' for ' of this date.' 

Page 28. — S Mint Quarters. In first paragraph the word 'Quarters' 
should be inserted after '90. 

N. B. — The 1893 S Quarter, just received, has a small s under the right 
side of the tail and over the space between R and D. 



iVI EMORANDA. 



/ 



MEMORANDA 



. ■■ 



HI 



OCT 31 tfi 



H^>y^/W , v 






022 008 945 9 



■ 

- 

BES8SE9 ~»r^ w-s »*?*•*«* H^^DI 

UB15J wiwtw ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m 

■^^■■■H hi 

■ffl #|gteg- 

HHHHB 

WltfffwUMiiMiTMiiMirin iH«BBM^MHt 

I PfflMl ffl BB US 

»BBBBIWIHWBaM»ai«M P Ii Bm 

MfM i lK i fiwwnwi liiijlll B UPOT 

g^^^^ K ^ ^ CTMm g ^^inaflO ffl BHHB 




